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Farm, forest advocates lobby for more state money

By Associated Press

Published On: Feb 18 2013 10:20:07 AM EST

MONTPELIER, Vt. -

Groups ranging from the Vermont Farm Bureau to the Vermont Natural Resources Council are pushing for a big boost in state funding for a program launched last year to promote Vermont's agricultural and forestry sectors.

Those groups and other members of the Working Lands Coalition were at this Statehouse this past week to promote their 5-by-3 campaign, in which they're looking for $5 million in state funding for each of the next three years. The budget Gov. Peter Shumlin proposed last month calls for $1.5 million for the Working Lands Enterprise Fund in fiscal 2014.

The group says Vermont needs to step up its efforts to promote value-added agriculture and forestry industries.

But prospects of more than tripling the funding sought by Shumlin are uncertain given competing budget pressures.

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